Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-05
(CoNTINUED.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
Sr,rREr SEr1If.r,


The Summer and fall of the battle YEAR, of
1862 had passed without the Army of the
Cumberland-th callen the Army of the
Ohio-being able to bring Its Confederate an
tagonist TO decisive struggle In September
the two had raced entirely across the states OF
Tennessee and kentucky for the prize of
Louisville, which the Union army won. In
October the latter chased its enemy back
through Kentucky, without being able to III
fict upon it more thar the abortive blow at
Perryville, and November found the two op-
ponents facing each other in middle TenneS-
see-the Army of the Cumberland at Nash
vile, and the Confederate Army of the Ten
nessee at Murfreesboro, twenty eight miles
distant, There the two equally matched giants
lay confronting each other, and sullenly max
ing ready for the mighty struggle which was
to decide the possession Of a territory equal
ing kingdom In extent
In the year which had eapsed since the at
fair at Wildcat Harry Glen's regiment had
not participated in single general engage
ment 1t had secuted and raided it had re-
connoitered and guarded; it had chased guer-
rillas through the winters rain and mud for
days and nights together; it had followed
John Morgan's dashing troopers along lime
stone turnpikes that gIowed like brick kilns
under the July sun until three-fourthS of the
regiment had dropped by the roadside in sheer
exhaustion; it had marched over the noun
tains to Cumberland Gap, and back over the
mountains to Lexington; across Kentucky and
Tennessee to Huntsville, Ala, hack across
those states to the Ohio river. and again back
across Kentucky to Nashville, beside side
marches as numerous as the branches on a
tree; 50 per cent. of its number had fallen
victims TO sickness and hardship. and 10 per
cent more had been shot, here and there, Il
man or two at time, on the picket or
skirmish line, at fortls or stockades guarding
railroad bridges But while other regiments
which had suffered nothing like it had painted
on their banners Mill Springs" "Shiloh, :"
and "Perryville," its colors had Yet to receive
their maiden inscription. This was the hard
luck of many of the regiments in the left wing
of Buell's army in 1862.
Kent Edwards, whose promotion to the
rank of sergeant and reduction for some
escapade had been a usual monthly occur
renee during the year, was fond of saving that
the regiment was not sent TO the field to gain
martial glory, but to train as book agents TO
sell histories of the struggle, When This
Cruel War is Over Whereupon Abe Boil
ton would improve the occasion to invoke a
heated future for every person in authority.
from the president down to the fifth corporal
But for all this the 400 hardy bows who still
remained to answer roll call out of the l, 100
that had crossed the Ohio river in September,
1861, were as fine a body of fighting men as
ever followed flag, and there was 10 better
soldier among them than Harry Glen. Every
day had been growth 10 him, and every
trial had knit his spirit into firmer texture
For awhile he had mafe it matter of con-
science to take an active part i'll everything
that his comrades were called upon to do.
Soon this became a matter OF pleasure, for
the satisfaction of successfully leading them
through difficulties and dangers more than
compensated for the effort But while he had
indicated himself in their estimation, he vet
lacked that which the ordeal of a battle
would give him at home, and more than all,
in Rachel'S eyes He heard nothing from or
of her, but he consoled himself with the hope
that the same means by which she had been so
promptly informed Of his misstep would CON
vey TO her an intiInation Of bow well he was
deserving her. When he gained his laurels
be would himself lay them at her feet. Until
then he could only hope and strive, cherish
ing all the while the love for her that daily
grew stronger in his heart